MileSplit NY - It's our last top ten of the season, before our season recapping Elite Top Ten Moments of 2013. We look at some of the prevailing storylines you will be talking about heading into this weekend's NYSPHSAA State Meet, in Middletown, NY. It looks to be a great meet, with talent both young and old. The meet will cap off some of the states' most decorated athletes careers, as well as being a starting point for some of the states' underclassmen. We'll be on site calling all the action, but here is just a little sneak peak into what you can expect, with Tuesday's Top Ten Storylines To Follow At The State Meet. Cover Photo by Ron Kalasinskas
1. Whether Weather Will Be Wetter
If 2013 will be remembered for something, the amount of delays, cancelations, and rescheduling due to the weather constraints will be a prominent argument. With Hurricane Sandy ending XC seasons short, and thunderstorms ripping through sectional meets without regard, New Yorkers have battled more than most. The State Meet looks to be more of the same, with T-Storms forecasted for Friday, and plain rain on Saturday. Crazier things have happened, and we're hoping it all dries up before the meet kicks off, but we'll have our umbrella's present. Didn't slow down last year.
2. Which Section Reigns Supreme?
Indoors, it was Section 1 taking the title of most successful sectional. Many attribute that to superior competition facilities aiding training throughout the season. Now that the playing field has been equaled outdoors, can Section 1 repeat? There will be several worthy challengers, and I have a feeling the competition is much more spread out this season. Be sure to keep a lookout on your scorecards, and post your predictions in the comments!
3. Clearing the 8th Hurdle
Indoors, and last spring as well, there was only one name in contention for a Hurdle title. Jay Hebert of Ticonderoga had been on a tear in both seasons, clearing barriers faster by large margins over everyone else in the state. That landscape has changed this spring, and we find ourselves a much more interesting race. Hebert finds himself at NY #3 after conservative efforts at both Eddy and Loucks, but JJ Stallworth of Connetquot has pulled ahead, by a clear .15 seconds. Hebert has gone 14.07 last year, and feels there is sub-14 in his legs, but he will have to find that rhythm at States if he wants to repeat the champion. NY #2 Devin Merenda is headed to the Pent, which will give some reprieve, but Amir Rogers of NE/NW Prep is also ready to put on the pressure. Will be a race to watch.
4. Sights on the Sky
Talk about a leveling of the playing field. It seems the girls pole vault has become quite close, with two of the top seeds not making it past their qualifier. Karmen Auble of Warsaw, who holds the state leading mark of 12-7, did not clear the 11-2 opening height in Section 5, a quite controversial fact being that the pit was dark by the time she entered competition, with improper lighting the main cause. Likewise, Kara Snyder, who has gone 11-7 indoors, and 12-1 last spring came in third at her state qualifier. Indoor state champion Jenn Thill of Lancaster found similar luck in the early season, with a lingering injury that forced her out of competition for the first month of spring competition. She seems to be in peak shape again, clearing 12-3 at her qualifier, however there will be several girls looking to take that title as well. Be sure to watch this one.
5. No Need To Go To San Francisco To See Some 49'ers
There are currently twelve athletes over the forty-six foot barrier in the triple jump, with six of those over forty-seven. What will it take to win the state meet competition? We think a forty-nine footer would be the only way to secure a title, no questions asked. Devon Willis of Schalmont and Thomas Johnson of White Plains are tied for the state leading mark, with 48-2.75 as the mark. Johnson had won the title as a sophomore, but Willis defeated Johnson head-to-head at the Loucks Games. There is plenty of other athletes who are more than able to take the crown from both in the chance of a misstep, as Mustafa Dais of Hackley has pulled in some clutch wins this past season. If conditions cooperate, we may see that perfect jump.
6. Welcome to Wide-Open
Indoors, there was one name to fear in the female 1500m. Sabrina Southerland had been running well throughout the season, with a win at the prestigious Millrose Mile. That guarantee is now gone, as Southerland will focus on being the half-mile harrier at the state meet, leaving the 1500m up to mere seconds. Eileen O'Hara of Webster Thomas looks very strong in both the 1500m and 3000m, putting in the best times this season in the state of NY. However, section-mate Katie Lembo of Penfield is right on her heels in both, and when you throw in the rain, anything can happen. Plenty of girls are right in striking distance, and it would be hard to count out Fayetteville-Manlius' Katie Brislin or Valley Central's Holly Cavalluzzo.
7. Tracking Sophomore Sensations
When was the last time a freshmen boy won a state title? We couldn't remember one (sound off in the comments if you can). Izaiah Brown of Amsterdam was a threat last year, before pulling up with a leg strain. Now sophomore titles, those become less rare, as last year Jay Hebert captured gold in the 110m hurdles. This year, there are four more sophomore boys who seem to be taking off earlier than most. Benito Muniz of Carmel just popped a big PR at his state qualifier, going 1:53.16 in the 800m, putting him in the fast heat at Middletown. Even more impressive, James Burke of Port Jefferson had a busy day at his state qualifier, winning the 800m in 1:53.73 and the 1600m in 4:13.72. For the states fastest freshmen last year over the mile, Burke becomes a challenger in two events. The next two sophomores have that same danger, as the aforementioned Izaiah Brown is NY #2 over 400m, and is equally dangerous over the 200m as well. Ironically, it would be another sophomore who is one slot higher than him in the rankings, as Richard Rose of Boys and Girls went 47.52 at the PSAL Champs to take state leader. Some great marks from the 10th grade.
8. Kadecia Can
Here is the reason many athletes around the state are anticipating the seeds, to be released at 9pm tonight. The NYC All-Star Kadecia Baird of Medgar Evers has the potential to compete in the five different events. Whichever three she chooses to focus on, she instantly becomes the favorite, which is either good news or bad news depending which event you are entered in. Baird won the 100m, the 200m, and the 400m at her qualifier, while she was listed as an alternate for both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays as well. This level of dominance at the state level is very uncommon, and there are a slew of girls who will have to compete against her state leading times in four of the five events.
9. Last One Left
Fayetteville-Manlius' standout Nick Ryan has three races left in his high school career (possibly). With graduation falling on the same time schedule as Outdoor Nationals, there is a good chance the senior will not be making the trip. Ryan's goal all season has been to simply improve upon his 2012 state meet finish. Sounds reasonable enough, but when you left the 2012 state meet as double gold medalist with a 4:05.24 over 1600m, and a 9:03.81 over double that distance, the feat becomes that much more impressive. Several factors come into play when considering the possibilities here. On the plus side, Ryan has showed he is stronger than the year prior, already going 8:55 in the 3200m, and improving his entry level 1600m mark in mid-april. However, it had been reported that Ryan wasn't feeling 100% at his qualifier, which may have an effect. Another factor is the competition. Running form be damned, Eric Holt of Carmel is stronger than ever, and could push that 3200m pace to sub-9, and same with the 9-flat athlete from Long Island, Ryan Udvadia of Shoreham-Wading River. Throw in Indoor State Champion Sibby Hanson of Arlington, and you suddenly have a race that could put some serious lactic acid in your legs. That said, Ryan is one of the gutsiest racers the state has ever seen, and has been training for this situation all season. This may very well rest as the race to watch on the boys' side of the competition.
10. Hundred Meter Heroes
What do you do about Winston Lee of Hudson? The unlikely state leader has only joined the sport this spring. As a senior, he has dropped his personal best to 10.56, good enough for state leader material. At his biggest invitational of the season, the Eddy Games, he had gone 10.3 handtime after FAT Malfunction, so his best may actually be faster. His presence upsets the balance of the sprints, where all our outdoor players were well defined indoors. As if that disruption wasn't enough, there is word that Brian Smith of Greece-Athena has given up his spot in the 100m dash at the state meet to Section-mate Carnell Noble of Greece-Olympia (whom put in an impressive state leading 4x100m performance of 41.74 at their quals). That leaves only the indoor state champion, Chris Belcher of Sayville, as a threat to Lee if they both repeat their bests. Belcher is not one to be underestimated, mastering the art of peaking in the championship season. Plenty of other athletes are in the conversation, but this matchup of the veteran vs. the rookie will prove most exciting.